NIGHTSHADE | marvel x hp

048

"So...who are we spying on?"

Aria might've as well had a heart attack. Cedric's had startled the shit out her while she was in the very important mission of trying to overhear what that group of Durmstrang students was saying about the second task.

"Ced— what the hell are you doing here?" She whisper-yelled, scooting over as the male came to crouch next to her behind the bush.

"I don't know, I just saw you acting awfully suspicious and decided to join in." He smiled innocently, studying the girl's side profile as she continued to stare at the group of boys.

"Have you seen Peter?" She asked, without turning to him. "He was supposed to bring the egg from our quarters and come back."

"Haven't seen him." The auburn haired male shook his head, shrugging casually.

He'd in fact seen him, being led the totally wrong way by peeves but who was Cedric to get involved— after all, that same guy said he 'knew where he was going' that first time they met.

"Wait— you haven't figured out the second task yet?" He asked.

Aria finally looked at him. "What do you think?" She deadpanned. "That's kind of what I was trying to do here before you interrupted."

His lips curled into a faint smile. "Have some fun in your life, why don't you? That frowny face of yours will scare others away, you know."

That only made Aria's expression sour more.

"You're distracting me." She huffed before focusing back on the group. How the hell was she supposed to understand what they were saying if they weren't speaking English?

"Huh. I figured the info I dug up about that egg would be high on your priority list. Since you seem busy, I'll assume it can wait. Too bad."

Aria's head had snapped toward him so fast he thought she'd broke her neck.

"What did you just say?" She demanded. "What info?"

Cedric's smile turned into a smirk. "Meet me at the prefects' bathroom at midnight. And bring the egg." The hufflepuff didn't even give her the time to ask anything further before he stood and left the scene.

Say what now?

Well, at least she didn't have to stay hidden behind this stupid bush anymore, if anybody saw her they'd think she has a crush on one of the durmstrang boys, and that was NOT the case.

For the first time in weeks, the anxiety in Aria's chest had loosened. She had her nano tech back, access to Friday— just this morning Tony had her FaceTiming Pepper, who was so relieved to see that her daughter was safe and sound back with Tony.

Too bad she couldn't come due to her and Happy being tasked with taking care of some important things back in New York.

Aria was so busy pondering over that piece of information to notice that she was about to walk straight into someone.

The collision sent her a step back, nearly tripping over her own shoes.

"Whoa— sorry, I didn't see—"

"Watch where you're going," a crisp, annoyed voice cut in.

Aria looked up to see Cho Chang standing there, flanked by Daphne Greengrass, the girl from first year who -if she remembers correctly- had lowkey tried picking a fight with her.

Daphne's lips twitched in amusement. "Well, I suppose the sister of the Chosen One finally found a cheap new way to remind everyone she exists."

Aria raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. She wasn't going to bother correcting her. "Does it look like I want to be here?"